Earthquake strikes Chile

Earthquake strikes Chile
27 February 2010

On 27 February, an 8.8 magnitude (Richter scale) earthquake struck Chile, 90 km from Concepción, followed by many aftershocks. A tsunami alert remains in effect in Chile and most of the Pacific coast countries.

Preliminary information received from Chile is that more than 100 people are confirmed dead, and that the two worst-affected regions are BioBio and Maule. These are mainly rural areas where houses are built of mud bricks, and which cannot be accessed by road.

Communications are very limited and the airport in Santiago is closed. The President of Chile has declared a national State of Emergency.

Chilean Red Cross works with authorities

The Chilean Red Cross is working in close coordination with the National Emergency Office (ONEMI). ONEMI has so far advised that no international assistance should be requested until there is a clearer picture of the extent of damage and needs.

The Chilean Red Cross HQ in Santiago had no electricity and the telephone lines were not working. The HQ is now using a generator to operate. They are slowly establishing contact with branches in the most affected areas.

The IFRC has released 300,000 Swiss francs (approximately 280,000 US dollars; 205,000 euros) from its Disaster Emergency Response Fund to support the Chilean Red Cross relief operation.

The IFRC’s PanAmerican Disaster Response Unit, based in Panama, is on Red alert, and its crisis room has been activated since 3.30 AM.

The IFRC Regional representative plans to travel as quickly as possible from Buenos Aires to Santiago. Alerts for Regional Intervention Teams, Emergency Response Units and Field Assessment Coordination Teams were launched.


People observe a highway and cars destroyed by an earthquake in Concepcion some 100 km south of the epicenter. Photo: REUTERS/Jose Luis Saavedra courtesy of REUTERS Alertnet (www.alertnet.org)